If Windows users dread the blue screen of death then Samsung Galaxy users have come to feel the same way about the green line issue. It’s true that Galaxy users are seeing green and there have been many reports where people have repeatedly complained about a vertical green line appearing on their smartphone.
A display is the most critical component of any smartphone and the green line has come to affect multiple Android devices. While there were reports of green lines appearing on Samsung smartphones like the Galaxy S21 FE and the Galaxy S21 Ultra, the issue seems to be more widespread than previously thought. There are reports of Samsung Galaxy A73, Galaxy M21, and the entire Galaxy S22 series also being affected by the green line issue.
With an issue this widespread, let’s look at what the green line issue is, how it affects your user experience, and how to troubleshoot the issue if your Samsung Galaxy or Android smartphone also faces the issue.
Samsung green line issue: What is this issue and its impact
The green line issue is a technical problem faced by Android smartphone users where the display of the device is not cracked or broken but has a big green line on it. This green line usually cuts through the middle of the screen and your smartphone will continue to function normally even after this green line appears for the first time.
If you have a Samsung Galaxy smartphone and your device has a green line on the display then it doesn’t mean your device is dead. It only means that your smartphone is affected by an error, whose cause is still not known. However, most Galaxy users facing this issue have pointed at the issue being caused after updating their device with a recent Samsung patch.
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Samsung has not explained the cause for this green line issue affecting its Galaxy smartphone users but such a line appears only when there is a faulty connection between the display and the main board. In the case of Samsung Galaxy phones, the issue could be triggered by either One UI 6.0 update or the April 2024 security patch. However, pinning the blame solely on a software update is a little dubious.
Green line issue: Samsung is not alone
This isn’t an isolated incident where the green line has begun appearing on Galaxy smartphones. The issue first came to light in 2023 when a Galaxy Note 20 Ultra user posted about the green line issue on Facebook. It was followed by a few other reports of Galaxy users being affected by the green line issue before Galaxy S24 Ultra users began complaining about the same on official Samsung forums.
The common thread between these claims is that all these users have reported seeing a green line on the display after updating their smartphones with the latest software update or security patch. One theory argues the green line is caused by both the hardware and software and that these updates are making Galaxy devices run so hot that it ends up damaging the connection between the display and the chipset.
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Now, Samsung has never directly acknowledged the cause of this issue and might even be taking solace in the fact that it is not the only smartphone maker affected by this issue. The green line issue has also appeared on some OnePlus smartphones but the issue is more prominent on Galaxy devices.
Green line issue: How to troubleshoot Samsung green line issue
If a green line appears on your Samsung Galaxy smartphone after updating the software or updating with the latest security patch, here are some troubleshooting steps you can take to resolve the issue.
Restart your phone
This is the first action you must try after facing a green line issue on your Galaxy smartphone. Instead of turning off the screen, you need to completely shut down the smartphone and restart it after a few minutes. This will allow your phone to stop any background application, cool down the device, and restart every background task. If the green line is caused by a temporary software issue then it should be resolved by this step.
Remove any recently used applications
If restarting does not resolve the green line issue on your Galaxy phone or any other Android phone then you can try uninstalling any recently used applications. This is an attempt to see if the issue is caused by an incompatible or malfunctioning app. You can also revert any recent changes to your phone settings and see if that solves the green line issue.
Reboot your Galaxy phone in safe mode
This is a clever way to check whether it is a device-related issue or an issue caused by the software. By rebooting your Galaxy phone in safe mode, you are forcing the device to run only the most essential apps on your device. To do this, first completely power off your device. Now, turn on the device and when the Samsung logo appears, press and hold the volume down button. If done correctly, “Safe mode” will appear in the bottom left corner of the screen. Once you are in Safe mode, you can remove the third-party apps causing the issue.
Update your Galaxy smartphone
You might hesitate to update your Galaxy smartphone if the green line issue is caused by an update in the first place. However, you should once again check your device for any software updates and get the latest version. It could bring a solution or fix for the green line issue. To check for updates, go to Settings >> Select System >> Select Upgrade system.
Factory reset your Galaxy phone
If none of the above troubleshooting techniques fix the green line issue on your Galaxy device, you can try factory resetting your smartphone. This should be the last step you take, and when you factory reset, all the data from your phone will be erased. Before you do this, make sure you backup all your contacts, photos, videos, and other data.
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If none of the aforementioned solutions fix the green line issue on your Galaxy phone then it might be time for you to visit Samsung’s official service centre. This might require you to replace the display on your smartphone or it could get resolved by replacing the faulty connection between the screen and the motherboard.
In India, Samsung launched a special program offering free screen replacement for specific Galaxy smartphone users. The program, which ran till April 30, offered free replacement screens to eligible customers facing green line issues on their devices. If your Samsung Galaxy device has a green line, let us know in the comments whether you were able to fix it.
